The royal family attended the Princess of Girona Awards ceremony today, held at the iconic Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. The event began at 7:20 p.m. and was attended by the king and queen, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofía. It was the second joint event of the year for the four of them, although what surprised everyone most was the reason why Felipe VI paused his speech.
In the morning, we already saw the royal family gathered. They greeted the award winners and spoke with them before presenting the prizes. Queen Sofía and King Juan Carlos were not present, although they are part of the royal family.
The ceremony focused on young talent and also served as the symbolic close of the institutional year before summer. It was also a key occasion for Princess Leonor, who once again took center stage. Her role as heir to the throne was reinforced by her participation in the final speech, alongside her father.
Felipe VI surprises everyone at the Princess of Girona Awards
However, without a doubt, one of the most notable moments of the evening was led by King Felipe VI. While delivering his speech, the monarch paused his address to make a special mention. His words surprised everyone in attendance.
"I'm going to make a special mention, a mention of sports. Dear Andrés Iniesta of my life. It wasn't that long ago, just 15 years (15 años) ago, it feels like today, you've given us great moments," Felipe VI said.
With these words, Felipe VI wanted to pay tribute to Andrés Iniesta, who was present in the audience. The footballer had spoken a few minutes earlier, recalling his goal in the South Africa World Cup and commenting that a lot of time had passed since then.
Felipe VI had a very close moment with everyone at the Princess of Girona Awards
The king wanted to refute that with emotion. He emphasized that this moment represented a great achievement for Spain. He recalled that even today it remains very present in the country's collective memory.
The cameras captured the emotion of those in attendance. The monarch's gesture was widely applauded. It was a sincere and close moment that gave a more human tone to the event.
Felipe VI's address strengthened his connection with the audience. He also highlighted the importance of figures like Iniesta in Spain's recent history. It was a special moment that defined this edition of the Princess of Girona Awards.